Friday 11 April 2014

Cars and Toiletries on Pesach

Question: Our cars use E10 petrol which contains ethanol, much of which is derived from wheat. Some of our toiletries contain wheat-based-ethanol, too. Does that mean we have to sell our cars and toiletries over Pesach?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 442:9) writes that food that has been destroyed to the extent that it is no longer rauy l’achilas kelev (fit to be eaten by a dog) is no longer considered chametz, and one may own it over Pesach. The Mishna Berura (442:43) qualifies this ruling: while one may own it, one is still forbidden to eat this inedible ‘food’ miderabanan (See Rosh, Pesachim 2:1).

Defining what is rauy l’achilas kelev and eino rauy (unfit) is not so straight forward, however. Certain cleaning agents and cosmetics (including nail polish remover) contain denatured alcohol, ethanol that has been made unfit for human consumption by adding chemicals (denaturants) to it. It is possible, however, through adding various chemicals, to reverse the process (though other chemicals are added to make this difficult). Unless one can ascertain that the alcohol does not come from grain, this may be chametz. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 3:62) therefore writes that one must not use any product containing denatured alcohol over Pesach (See Minchas Shlomo 1:17).

Nonetheless, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yalkut Yosef 447:2) permits using products that contain denatured alcohol on Pesach. R’ Chaim Elazar Shapira (Minchas Elazar 5:34) writes that while people are particular, once alcohol has been denatured, it is not considered rauy l’achilah. Thus, one may drive a car (on Erev Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed) even if the petrol is mixed with denatured alcohol.

In conclusion, one may own a car on Pesach and fill it up with petrol on chol hamoed even though it may contain wheat. One does not need to sell their toiletries, though it is ideal to avoid using them over Pesach if they contain wheat.

No comments:

Post a Comment